Surface-excavating machine



Aug., ze, mg T J FREDA Lfm Filed aan. s, 1922 INENTOR- Theop Z 1f'Ff/Pda.

v'l sheets-sheet z Fild Jan. :5, 1925 T J FREDA SURFACE EXCAVATINGVlACIIINElv Aug l Aug. 26,` "1924. LSGSAZI l T. J. FREpA SURFACEExcAvATfNG MACHINE Filed aan, s, 1922 7 shetsn'sheet "Aug, 2e, 1924a T.-J. F REDA SURFACE EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Jari. 5, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet4 LSSAZX T. J. FREDA Aug. 26, 1924.

SURFACE EXCAVATING MACHINE 7 Vsheets-shew 5 Filed Jan. 5, 1922 INVENToR.Weqp/W' Lfweda/ Aug, 2a, w24, Lsomm T. J. FREDA SURFACE EXCAVATINGMACHINE Filed Jan. s', 1922 7 sheets-sham 6 f v/D IN V EN TOR.

Ang. 26, 1924.VA 1,506,421

T. J. FRED/ SURFACE EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet7 .ggg/92%@ @2W/Mw Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

THEOPHIL J. FREDA., 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

sU'nrAcE-nXcAva'rme insomma' Application flied January 3, 1922. SerialRo. 526,605

To 'aZZ whom it muy concern Be it known that l, THEOBHILJ. FREDA, acitizen or' theyUnited States of America, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne v and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Surface-Excavating Machines, of which the'following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a surface excavating machine that may beadvantageously used for road building, ground leveling purposes andlarge excavations.

My invention aims to provide a surface excavating machineV embodying atractor provided'with rotary cutters and conveyors by which earth may beexpeditiously .and economically removed from the surface and vloaded invehicles, The machine is particularly characterized by a novelarrangement of transversely disposed rotary cutters which dischargeearth into-transversely disposed screw conveyors and from theseconveyors endless belt or apron conveyors carry the earth forwardly anddischarge the same into hoppersor chutes that may 'be positioned so`(that vehicles may receive earth from the same. ln addition to thetransversely disposed cutters, there are central cutters and a centralbucket conveyor and the transverse' arrangement of the cutters is suchthat a Y, widesection of earth can be removed as the machine -is movedforwa'tid. Other advantages of 'the surface excavating machine willappear las the invention is described bythe aid of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the surfaceexcavating` machine, showing a vehicle that `mav receive earth from themachine;

Fig. v2 isa plan of the machine; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of aportion of the machine .showing the transverse rotary cutters; Fig. 4.is a plan 4machine;

Fig. 5 is a' central enlarged tn 'ansverse sectional view of a portionof the machine, il-` of an arch member` of the Fig. 7 is a simliar viewtaken on the line VDL-VII of `Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectionalview oi a portion of the construction shownin Fig. 5

. and taken on the line VIH-VIII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sec- 'tional view of a portion of arotary cutter, showing the spiral or screw conveyor;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the line taken' on the line X--X ofFig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the inner heads ofone of the rotar cutters and Byi 1 g. 12 is a detail sectional view ci aportion of one of. the inner heads of the machine,

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of. a bucket conveyor and Fig. 14 is aperspective view of a portion of one of the rotary cutters.

Reference will liirst be had to Figs. 1 and 2 which gives some idea ofthe general appearance of the machine and in providing a framework forthe machine use, as far as possible structural steel of standard shapesso that the. Jframework vma'y be fabricated at a comparatively smallcost andat the vsame time insure the strength and rigidity necessary formachines ot this type.

The reference Vnumeral `1 denotes a substantially rectangular tractorfra-me provided with caterpillar traction members 2 of a conventionalform, and on the rear end of the frame is a seat 3 for an operator orVattendant of the machine. 4 denotes a supperposed frame ciu-which isplaced an electric motor 5- or other source of power, said 'motor/havingits armature shaft 6 provided with sprocket wheels 7 and 8, the latterbeing employed with sprocket chains v9 for driving thetraction members2. said sprocket chains. being trained under sprocket wheels 11 on oneof the axles or drive shafts of the traction members 2.. Y

10 denotes a forwardly extending treme having its rear end suitablymounted on the tractor frame 1 and the forward and of the frame 10 issupported by pony trucks 12 and 13. At 'the eXtreme forward end of saidframe 10 is an overhanginc; portion or bracket 14 under which a vehicle15, as a truck, may be backed to receive earth from v hoppers or 'chutes16 and' I17 carriedby the ing ai,

overhan'gin'g` portion 14 of 'the frame 10. The lio'ppers 16'are two innumber, oneat each side of the overhanging bracket 14,- and the hopper17 isf 'nf advance of the transverse plane of thelhbbperlG and elevatedcompared thereto.

The main frame 1 0, intermediate the endsV thereof, is connected bytransversesupports 18 and connecting these supports intermediate theends thereof, is a longitudinally disposed arch member 19 providedl withopenings 20. Onv the arch member is a bearing 21`and a bearing 22, saidbearings supporting a shaft23 provided with a sprocket wheel 24longitudinally alining with the sprocket wheel 7 vof the -motor armatureshaft 6, sothat an endless sprocket, chain 25 may be trained over'thesprocket wheels 7 and 24 for driving the shaft 23.

Mounted on the shaft 23, within the bearis a sprocket wheel 26 andsuitably connected to the lower face of the bearing I21 is a hanger 27.f Extending through the Ahanger 27 'area plurality of circumferentiallyarranged tie rods 28 and mounted on the ends of said tie rod are innerheads29 having bottom pieces 30 connected below the hanger 27. Someofthe rods 28. connect the inner heads 29 and the hanger 27 "with outerheads' 33, but the-lowermost rods 28,

are of less length,simply vconnecting the' inner heads, so as not toobstruct falling earth.

-Connectedto the inner end flanges 31 of i outwardly extendingtransversely alining conduits or tubes 32 which `have the outeruendsthereof provided with the outer bearing heads 33 containing concentricanti-frictional radial and end thrust bearings 34 and similarcircumferentially arranged bearings 35. f

Concentric of each conduit or tube 32 is a rotatable conveyor shaft 36which has 'its ends journaled in the heads 29 and and on said shaft is aspiral conveyor or screw 37 which is driven to conduct earth from theinner end ofthe conduit 32 to the outer end thereof. Loose onthe innerend of the shaft 36 is a sleeve 38' and fixed on said sleeve is a largegear wheel 38 and a small gear wheel 39. The large ge-ar wheel 38 mesheswith 'a plurality of vsmall circumV ferentially disposed gear wheels 40.mounted on longitudinally disposed shafts 41 journaled in the innerhead 29'and ings 35- of the outer head 33. On these shafts, atintervals, are pinions 42^mesb ing with internal racks 43 forming .partof rotary. longitudinally 4disposed cutters 46 connected by ya skeletonframework so that earth may fall therethrough when conductf ed to theupper side of each cutter. The

skeleton framework includes longitudinal webs 45 ard circumferentiallytilis'oomidy heads 29 are the,

the bearaccesar tary cutter where it will be discharged'from the scoopsor shovels, through theframework of the cutter linto the conduit 32, thedischarged earthpassing through a'seriesy of openings'48 in the upperside ofthe con-l duit 32, said opening having longitudinal deiiector's49 fixed on the edges of the con duit 32 to deflectearth into theconduit.

l The cutters 46 'afford major teeth and each majortooth hassawrtoothedges or minor teeth 51 which-'are adapted to easily entery the earth'andloos'en or disintegrate` the same so that the/earthy may be scoopedup by the. cutter shovels. 1 One or `more of the cutters 46 `may beprovided with pivoted contact arms 521er(-| tending' beyond the path oftravel'of the 1A cutterso that should airock or lother indurateobstruction 53; be encountered an electrical circuit may'beestablishedby leadavisible ing out wires 54 to display or sound or audible signal(not shown). The 'op crater ofthe machine will therefore be warned ofsuch an` obstruction and give'the4 machine his eitireattention for fearthat it ymay be necessaryto stop `the rotary cutter which willeventually encounter the obstruction. l

The innermost rack 43 of each rotary cutter has auxiliary cutters 55connected there` to -arbh member 19 yand adapted toitleflectearthoutwardly and into they inner@y ends ofthe conduits 32. f/

Y The small gear wheels 39 A*meth with large gear wheels 56 looselymountedv on a shan 57, journaled in side frames -58 carried by saidyauxiliary cutters beingbelow the' the bottomvpieces 30. Thegearwheelsxd vhave clutch membersy 59 adapted to bef'engaged by adjustableclutch members 60-slid ably keyed 'on the shaft 57 for rotationtherewith' and' said clutch members.- are adapted` to establish drvingrelation. between the shaft 57 and t e gear wheels56.V

The' shaft B7 extends through the 'hanger'27 i.

and is provided with fixed gear wheels 61 which have the hub portionsthereof journaled in the hanger 27. Fixed on the shaft p 57 VWit-hin thehanger 27 is a large sprocket /wheel 63 vertically alining vwith thesprocket wheel 26 and about said sprocket wheels isy trained an endlesssprocket chain 64,-said chain extending through openings65 ofthe 4archmember 19.,

The clutch members 6C may be shifted by .levers 66 and 67 extendingthrough l:the 13( openings 20 of the arch member 19, the lever 67 beingpivotally mounted, as at 68,Y in one of said openings and pivotallyconnected, as 'at 69, to the lever 66 whereby manipulation of said leverwill cause the adjustable clutch members 60 to engage the clutch member59 of thegear wheels 56.

The side frames 58 and the hanger 27 cooperate in supportinoi rotatableshafts 70 on which are mountedb gear wheels 7l mesh` 27 and the sideflange 58 is a set of shafts 74 and loose `on said shafts are sets ofgear wheels 75 meshing with the4 gear wheels 72 .and with the hogs orteeth 76 of an endless apron or beltV 7 provided with scoops or buckets78 affording a bucket conveyor in the longitudinal'vertical plane of themachine. y The bucket conve or is trained under anti-frictional rollers9'supported from the bottom pieces 30 so that the buckets 78 may passbetween the auxiliarycutters 55,

' tional roller 8O above the arch member 19;

as best shown in Fig. 5, and these buckets are adapted to scoop up suchearth as is loosened between the auxiliary cutters. The bucket conveyorextends over an anti-frica similar roller 8l supported above the mainframe 10, 'aigri other rollers 82 supported by a scad'old carried by theoverhanging frame or bracket 14 and extending over the hopper or chute17, so that earth may be discharged into said hopper durin the operationof the machine. The scatto d 83 and the supports 84 of the roller 80 maybe bracedby tie rods or cables 85 ,relative to the main plane 10 of the'machine.

Att-he outer ends of the'conduits 32 arev discharge openings 86 andearth conducted to the outer ends of said conduits falls through theopenings 86 on to endless apron conveyors, 87 said apron conveyorsbeiiig trained about'rolls 88 and 89, the former being one of the shafts41 of each rotar cutter and the latter on a shaft 90, journa ed inbearings 91 at the side hoppers or chutes 16.

The apron conveyors 87 extend upwardly at an inclination, as best shownin Fig. 1, and are driven' in synchronism with the rotary cutters so'lthat as festas earth is removed it may be conveyed to the lioppers 16,

Considering Fig. 5, it will be noted that the central bucket conveyor isdriven through the medium of the shafts 23, 57 and 73 and since theshaft 73 forms part of the to4 the innerends of said cutters an Aveyors.

' by said conveyors.

shafts 86 the spiral conveyors will be oper-I ated in synchronism with abucket conveyor.

It is through the medium of the levers 66 and 67 that the clutches 60may iix the gear wheels 56 relative to the driven shaft 57 so that powermay bevtransmitted 4to the shafts 41 and thus operate the rotary gears.

. While in the drawing there is illustrated a preferred` embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements aresusceptible to such variations and modications as fall within the scopeof the appended claims. g

What 1 claim is 1. A surface excavating machine comprisby andoverhanging unexcavated. ground,

transversely disposed spaced apart rotary cutters supported by said mainframe, a conveyor axially of each cutter and of greater .lengthl thaneach cutter'adapted to'conduct earth to the outer' end of each cutter,and means on said tractor adapted tofsimultaneously operate said cuttersand conveyors.

2. A. surface excavating machine as in claim 1, wherein said 'meanstransmits ower con- 8. A surface excavating machine asy in claim .1, andendless apron conveyors at the outer ends of said cutters adapted toreceive earth from the conveyors axially of said cutters and conductearthl to the forward end of said main frame. A i

4. A surface. excavating machine as in claim 1, and vbucle-,t conveyorsbetween said cutters and adapted to convey earth to th forward end ofsaidmain frame. l

5'.I A surface excavating machine as 4in claim 1, wherein Veach cutteris composed of a framework having webs ybetween whichyearth may fall onto said conveyors.

6. A surface excavating machine as in claim 1, wherein the conveyors are1n the form of screws disposed in conduits with conveyor operatin meansbetween the inner ends of said con uits and from the outer ends of whichconduits. earth is discharged 7.. A surface excavating machinecomprising a tractor, a main framesupported'thereby, rotary cuttersdisposed transversely of said main frame, spira'l` conveyers axially ofsaid cutters adapted to conduct earth to the outer'ends of saidcutters,hoppers supported from the forward end of said inain frame.

and endless conveyors adapted to conduct earth from the outer ends ofsaid spiral vconveyors to said hoppers.

8. A surface excavating machine as in claim 7, wherein the hoppei's areelevated so that a vehicle may back under said hoppers to receive earththerefrom.

9. A surface excavating machine as in claim 7, and an endless bucketconveyor t9y cutters.

between-said' cutters adapted to conduct earthfrom between said cuttersto one of said lioppers.

10. A surface excavating machine as in claim" 7, andA means operatedfrom said tractor and including gear wheels adapted for simultaneouslyoperating said cutters and spirall conveyors with 4one of -said gearwheels transmittingpower to said endless' conveyor. l I

11. A surface excavating machine as in cla-'1m' 7, whereln the tractoris adapted to `move on an excavated surface and lpony trucks under theforward end. of saidrmain frame engaging an unexcavated surfacecooperate with said tractor in supporting said cutters* relative to theunexcavated surface.

12. -A surface excavating machine comprising a main frame, transverselydisposed coaxial rotary cutters supporte by said 1 mainf frame, andhaving confronting ends ward'v landl rear endsof said main framework,yso that said framework may be ad- -vanced on excavated and unexcavatedV prising amain ground during the operation of said `cui'- ters.

-f 14..'A surface excavating machine as in claimhv 12, and endlessconveyors adapted to conduct earth .forwardly from the outer ends ofsaid conduits and from between said 15. A- surface excavating lmachine,comframe, transversely disposed rotary cutters, conduits axially of saidcuttersand adapted toreceive earth therefrom, spiral Aconveyors in saidconduits adapted to discharge earth at the. outer ends thereof, meansbetween said cutters for simultaneouslyoperating said cutters andconveyors,

4andenieans between said cutters operated by the 4last mentionedmeansadapted for excavating-earth and removing earth from between saidcut-ters.

16. A surface excavating machine, as in l yclaim 15,v whereln the lastmentionedl means includes auxiliary cutters operable in unlson withsaidl rotary cutters, and an endless bucket conveyor between saidauxiliary cutters.

lce

17. A, surface excavating machine comprismg a mainframe, transverselydisposed vrotary cutters carried thereby,`means axial- .ly offsaidrotary cutters adapted to' receive and conductearth tothe outer ends of.said

cuttersyand earth removing means disposed ,betweeny said cutters;

accesar 1 8. A surface excavating machine, as in claiml?, and means onsaid'main frame adapted to simultaneously operate said cutters.

19. A surface excavating machine as in claim 17, and means supportingtheforward end of said main frame 0n unexcavated y ground and the rear endof the main frame on excavated ground so that ity may be advanced duringthe operation of saidcutters.

20. In a surface excavating machine, a

rotary skeleton framework,l rows of rigid cutter teeth on said rotaryskeleton kframe-v work, ribs connecting said teethy andbracing the wallsthereof, a stationary conduit in said -rotary skeleton framework andinto whichearth may fall, andmeans in said rotary skeleton framework andsupported on said conduit-for imparting rotation to said framework. v

21. An` excavator comprisinginner vand outer heads, cireumferentiallydisposed shafts rotatably supported by said heads, al

rotary cutter about said shafts and driven therefrom, and a conduitconnecting said heads and adapted to receive earth from said cutter,`said conduit supporting said outer head relative to said inner head andat intervals supporting said shafts. j

22. An excavator as called for in claim 21,

wherein said-cutter is in the formv ofen.

framework having rigid rows of teeth disposed toscoop up 'earth.

23./An excavavor as. called for in vclaim 21,' and a conveyor at theouter-.head and extending rearwardly from said conduit adapted toreceive earth fromv said conduit said conveyor being operatedV from oneof said shafts. j

24. An excavating nichine. comprising sets of heads coaxially.disposedfshafts journaled in `each set of heads, cutters disposedcircumferentially of said shafts and driven thereby, auxiharycutters atthe inner ends Aof the first mentioned cutters, a conveyor between saidsets of heads, and means between said sets of heads for simultaneouslydriv-4 -ing saidshafts and said conveyor. f

25.'An excavating machine as called forin claim 24, and means operatedfrom between the sets of heads for conveying earth axially of saidcutters.

26. An excavating jmachine comprising coaxially arranged rotary cutters,racks at the inner 'ends of said cutters for revolving said cutters,auxiliary cutters carried by said racks, and driving means for saidracks arranged between the inner ends of said cutters.l

27. Anexcavating machine as called for in claim 26, and a conveyoroperated in synchronism with said` racks and adapted to receive earth.from said auxiliary cutters. f

28. In a service excavating machine, transversely alining rotarybucket-like cutters each including framework having webs and a rack, andmeans at the confronting ends of said cutters engaging the racksthereofadapted for rotating said cutters.

29. In a surface excavating machine, a conduit adapted to receive`excavated earth, rigid cutters disposed circumferentially of saldlconduit and longitudinally thereof, a framework supporting said cuttersabout said conduit and including webs and a rackv `with cutters integralwith said webs, and

means engaging the rack of the framework adapted to rotate saidframework and said cutters about said conduit.

30. A. surface excavating machine .as called for in claim 29, and rotarymeans

